The Brazilian high court has ruled that a former Manchester City player, Robinho, must serve a nine-year prison sentence in Brazil following his conviction on sexual assault in Italy in 2013.

Along with five others, he was found guilty of raping a woman in a Milan nightclub and sentenced to nine years.

The 40-year-old has denied any wrongdoing and has lost two appeals to overturn his conviction.

There was a probability that he would not serve his sentence, as Brazil does not extradite its citizens and he is based in Brazil.

However, judges on Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice voted 9-2 on Wednesday to validate the conviction, and he will now serve his sentence in his homeland.

Robinho may still appeal the decision to Brazil’s Supreme Court.

Chelsea forward Carney Chukwuemeka has revealed the stadium he dreams of playing at.

The England U21 star said he is excited about the prospect of playing at the Wembley Stadium in London.

Chelsea will play Manchester City in the semifinals of the 2023-2024 FA Cup at Wembley.

Chukwuemeka and Chinonso ‘Noni’ Madueke gave Chelsea the victory after coming off the bench to inspire the Blues to a 4-2 win against Leicester City.

Chukwuemeka did not play the final of the Carabao Cup at the Wembley on February 25, 2024 when Chelsea tackled Liverpool.

“We went into this season wanting to win trophies and play in finals,” he told Chelsea’s official website.

“So it’s a massive opportunity for us as a young squad. Another opportunity to play at Wembley, and hopefully we get to the final.

“It’s amazing for me. I missed the Carabao Cup final due to injury so to get the chance to play at Wembley is the stuff of dreams for me.

“It’s something I dreamt about as a kid as I’m a Chelsea fan, so I can’t wait.”

Thirteen players have assembled at the Black Stars’ camp in Marrakech, Morocco, in preparation for upcoming friendlies against Nigeria and Uganda.

The players include Joseph Wollacott, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Andre Ayew, Tariq Lamptey, and Antoine Semenyo.

Others are Kassim Nuhu , Abdul Samed Salis, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Patrick Kpozo, Seidu Alidu, Ernest Nuamah, Jordan Ayew, and Denis Odoi.

The Ghanaians engaged in a workout on Tuesday morning in preparation for the two games.

Thirteen more players are still being expected in camp.

Ghana will face eternal rivals Nigeria in their first friendly at the Grande de Marrakech on Friday.

The Black Stars will also line up against the Cranes of Uganda at the same venue next week Tuesday.

Arsenal forward, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji has confirmed his eligibility to play for the Super Eagles.

Oyedeji is a product of Arsenal’s Hale End Academy and is also eligible to play for the Three Lions of England.

He was born and raised in England to a Nigerian father and a Saint Vincent mother.

Oyedeji joined Arsenal at the age of eight and signed a professional contract in the summer of 2021.

He has spent time on loan at Accrington Stanley and Cheltenham in search of first-team football.

“My family background is that my dad’s Nigerian and my mother is from St Vincent. The Butler is from my mum’s side and Oyedeji is from my dad’s side,” he told the Arsenal Matchday programme.

“My dad always encouraged me to watch clips of Thierry Henry to understand the art of playing in attack but I also watched the likes of Ronaldinho too, just mesmerized by their ability.”

Serie A champions, Napoli have confirmed Victor Osimhen will not feature in Super Eagles’ friendly against Ghana and Mali due to injury.

Osimhen was named among the substitutes in Napoli’s 1-1 draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro on Sunday but didn’t feature in the game.

Caretaker manager, Francesco Calzona said after the game that it was due to an inflammation of the scar from an old injury.

The 25-year-old has still not fully recovered from the injury as his name was not on the list of players Napoli released on international duty.

Tyrone Ebuehi and Gabriel Osho have already been ruled out of the friendlies with injury.

Nottingham Forest forward, Taiwo Awoniyi is also doubtful for the clash with the Black Stars and Eagles due to fitness concerns.

The Super Eagles will take on Ghana at the Grand de Stade Marrakech on Friday, March 22.

The three-time African champions will face Mali four days later at the same venue.

Nigeria’s Under-20 female football team, the Falconets, on Monday reached the finals of the women’s football event at the 13th African Games in Ghana.

They defeated their Ugandan counterparts 2-0 in the semi-finals of their match at Cape Coast Stadium.

The Falconets have boosted their quest to clinch the gold medal in their event.

Falconets had beaten Morocco 2-0 in their first match before a 4-0 humbling of Senegal in their second group B game to qualify for the semi-finals.

Both teams had pushed for a breakthrough in the first half of the match which ended goalless.

Substitutes, Adaobi Okoh and Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, scored the goals that lifted the Nigerians over Ugandans for a place in the finals of the African Games 2023.

Uganda fought well until Okoh, who replaced Olushola Shobowale, found the back of the net in the 74th minute with her first touch in the game.

Okwuchukwu added the second goal in the 89th minute to give Nigeria the desired victory.

The Falconets will face the winner of the second semi-finals between host, Ghana, and Senegal.

The loser in the second semi-finals will meet Uganda in the bronze medal’s match of the women’s football event.

Falconets won the gold medal in the event at the 12th African Games in Rabat, Morocco, in 2019.

The 13th African Games, which started March 8, will be rounded off on March 23.

The ongoing games are being held across three cities: Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast.

Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag has admitted that Amad Diallo deserves more playing time after FA Cup heroics against Liverpool on Sunday.

Diallo’s 121st-minute winner secured a 4-3 FA Cup win over Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The 21-year-old has missed a large chunk of the 2023-24 campaign due to a knee injury.

“I’m so happy for him,” Ten Hag said at his post-match press conference.

“He is one of the players with a huge setback this season, a bad injury, returning from it, but returning to a team where there is a lot of competition for his position.

“He doesn’t always get the time to play he deserves by his training performances but then he is coming on, then he shows his contribution, scoring a goal.

“But we know he can do it, we know he has the key moments where he can decide a game. I am very pleased he got the winner.”

Diallo was shown a second yellow card for the celebration after scoring the winner.

He will miss Man United’s Premier League tie against Brentford after the international break.

Chelsea forward, Raheem Sterling has issued an apology to the Blues fans for the missed penalty in their FA Cup win over Leicester City on Sunday.

Despite Chelsea making it through to the FA Cup semi-finals with a 4-2 victory, Sterling’s poor performance did not go unnoticed.

After asking Cole Palmer for a penalty kick, Sterling’s weak effort was saved by Jakub Stolarczyk.

The former Manchester City and Liverpool star missed further chances and was loudly booed by home supporters.

Sterling took to social media after the game to address the fans and promise to come back stronger.

“Wembley Bound. To all the Chelsea fans, apologies for the penalty miss,” Sterling wrote on Instagram.

“I’ll be back 10x times stronger to help the team win and continue to keep fighting for the badge every single day. Let’s go Blues.”

Sky Bet Championship club Leeds United are preparing a £7 million bid for Super Eagles defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel.

The versatile defender has been heavily linked with a return to England since leaving Queens Park Rangers for Turkish Super Lig outfit, Fenerbahce in 2021.

Leeds United are desperate to lure Osayi-Samuel away from Fenerbahce in the summer, according to Transfer Postasi.

The Whites currently occupy second position on the Championship table and look good to secure promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season.

Leeds United will however face stiff competition from the likes of Crystal Palace and Fulham, who are also desperate to sign the Nigeria international.

The 26-year-old has starred for Fenerbahce this season, playing a key role in their quest to win the league title.

Rafa Benitez has been sacked as Celta Vigo manager after less than a season in charge of the club.

This comes after Celta Vigo’s 4-0 defeat against Real Madrid on Sunday.

The outcome of the match leaves Celta Vigo just one place and two points above the relegation zone in La Liga.

Benitez won only five of his 28 league matches in charge of Celta Vigo.The 63-year-old was appointed last summer.

The 63-year-old was appointed last summer.

Celta thanked Benitez and his departing staff in a statement on Tuesday.

The Spanish club also highlighted their “honesty and professionalism” during their time at the club.

Benitez has coached the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Real Madrid in the past.

Harrison Jalla, the chairman of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN), has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to choose the head coach for the Super Eagles.

Mr Jalla, who said this while addressing journalists on Tuesday in Lagos, said it was time for an indigenous coach to take over as the head coach of the Super Eagles.

He said the NFF had engaged foreign coaches for more than eight years without substantial results to show for it.

“With more than five unproductive years with Gernot Rohr and almost two years of Jose Paseiro, with Coach Austine Eguavoen making a brief stint in-between.

“It is time to engage our indigenous coaches with the same terms and conditions given to Gernot Rohr and Jose Paseiro. Any attempt to treat indigenous coaches differently will be resisted,” Mr Jalla said.

He said Messrs Rohr and Paseiro left no legacy other than destroying the Super Eagles’ traditional pattern of free-flow football.

“None of these foreign coaches could attain Coach Stephen Keshi’s 2013 AFCON record,” added Mr Jalla.

Mr Jalla urged the NFF to invest in the development of indigenous coaches through the annual technical grants from FIFA and CAF, which would benefit our football.

According to Mr Jalla, the nucleus of the team that won the 2013 AFCON are home-based players.

“We have a legion of ex-internationals that are qualified to handle the Super Eagles, Emmanuel Amuneke, Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George, Emeka Ezeugo among others.

“Nigeria was once at the 5th position in FIFA rankings, but clueless football administrators have pulled us to where we are today by recycling visionless leaders.

“The time to break that monopoly is now and it will certainly happen in a matter of weeks,” he said.

Manchester City goalkeeper, Éderson, is now an injury doubt for the Premier League visit of Arsenal on March 31.

Ederson will be unavailable for Brazil’s upcoming friendly games against England and Spain due to a muscular problem.

ESPN Brazil reports that the player sustained a rectus femoris muscular injury in his right leg.

He is expected to be out of action for three to four weeks.

That timeline could also keep the 30-year-old on the sidelines for their league clash with fellow title-chasers Arsenal on March 31.

Ederson suffered the injury after colliding with Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and City coach Pep Guardiola said after the game that the player’s injury “doesn’t look good.”

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles on Monday beat South Sudan 1-0 in their second Group B game at the ongoing African Games in Accra, Ghana, to get their campaign back on track.

Nigeria went into the game on the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss to Ugandan in their opening match.

The team, however, redeemed their image on Monday with a slim but important victory against their South Sudan counterparts.

Sadiq Isiyiaka, who scored Nigeria’s only goal against Uganda, converted from the spot in the second half to give the Flying Eagles a scrappy 1-0 win.

The Ladan Bosso tutored side will now shift attention to their final game against Senegal on Friday to secure qualification for the semi-finals of the men’s football event.

The Senegalese team lost 1-0 to Ugandan in their second group B fixture on Monday.

Former Super Eagles technical adviser, Jo Bonfrere has endorsed Emmanuel Amuneke for the team’s vacant coaching job.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, declared the position vacant following the expiration of Jose Peseiro’s contract.

Peseiro was in charge of the three-time African for 22 months.

The Portuguese guided the West Africans to second position at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Amuneke, who is one of the coaches favoured to take over from Peseiro confirmed he has already applied for the job.Bonfrere believes Amuneke has what it takes to lead the Super Eagles.

“Yes, I agree Nigeria needs a local coach at the moment. Not a foreigner,” Bonfrere told VON.

“But the country will have everything to gain if the authorities should appoint Emmanuel Amuneke for the job. I know him very well.

“He has a very strong mentality. He has the discipline and technical savvy to achieve results. In fact, if the Federation calls me to provide technical backup to Amuneke, I will gladly accept the task.”

Former Nigerian winger, Emmanuel Amuneke has put himself in the running to be the next head coach of the Super Eagles.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, declared the position vacant on Friday following the expiration of erstwhile handler, Jose Peseiro’s contract.

The NFF requested interested coaches to apply for the top job and also listed the requirements.

“Yes I did [apply to be the next manager],” Amuneke told popular journalist Osazu Obayiwana.

The 53-year-old is one of the leading candidates to take over from Peseiro.

The former Barcelona star has handled the Nigeria U-17 side and Tanzania national team in the past.

The draw for the CAF Futsal AFCON Morocco 2024 was conducted on Thursday in Rabat, Morocco.

The eight countries that will be playing at the tournament were drawn into groups of four each.

Hosts and reigning champions, Morocco are in intriguing Group A alongside 2020’s third-place finishers, Angola, 1996 runners-up Ghana, and Zambia.

Group B has Egypt alongside 2008 champions Libya and debutants Namibia and Mauritania.

The competition will run from April 11 to 21, 2024.

Here is a full list of the Futsal AFCON 2024 final draw:

Group A: Morocco; Angola; Ghana; and Zambia.

Group B: Egypt; Libya; Namibia; and Mauritania.

An early penalty by Alexis Mac Allister and a Darwin Nunez brace helped Liverpool to thrash Sparta Prague 5-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday.

After Mac Allister was taken down inside the box, the Argentine gave Liverpool the lead from the spot in the sixth minute.

He sent Sparta keeper Peter Jensen the wrong way as he fired into the bottom corner.

Nunez doubled the advantage from a distance in the 25th, scoring just under the bar and leaving Sparta’s goalkeeper with no chance before making it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time.

Liverpool substitute, Conor Bradley, scored an own goal just after the break.

The visitors restored their three-goal lead in the 53rd minute through Luis Diaz, and Dominik Szoboszlai added a fifth in added time.

Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, has admitted he would love to return to the national team set-up if offered the chance.

Enyeama is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever goalkeepers to have represented the country.

The 41-year-old made 101 appearances for the Super Eagles before his controversial retirement in 2015 after a clash with former head coach, Sunday Oliseh.

However, in an interview with Lagos Talks, Enyeama said: “Becoming a goalkeeper coach, first of all, I’m not yet certified. If they want me to be like Zidane, who was not yet certified, but Real Madrid had faith in him, it can happen.

“I don’t have a problem if they wake up tomorrow and say, Vincent, come and be part of the setup- I will gladly do it. I can never say no to my country, I have always said that.

“I can never say no to Nigeria. I will bring my experience over the years in Europe, and we will do it. But they have to call me first.”

Manchester City cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals for the seventh consecutive season with a 3-1 victory over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday in their last-16 second leg.

The result wrapped up a 6-2 aggregate triumph for the hosts at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City, who started the game with a two-goal cushion, took care of business early with first-half goals by Manuel Akanji, Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland.

With a trip to Liverpool in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash to come on Sunday, manager Pep Guardiola had the luxury of resting key players including Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden.

He made seven changes to his side that beat Manchester United 3-1 in last Sunday’s league derby.

“Today, I need energy, fresh legs,” Guardiola said. “I know how tired, exhausted some of my players were today … We play on Sunday. So I need fresh legs.”

Manchester City are a point behind Liverpool and a point ahead of Arsenal after 27 league games in a tight title race.

They are also in the thick of the FA Cup, with a quarter-final against Newcastle United on March 16.

“To be part of the titles, we need everyone,” Guardiola said.

“For one more year we are in the best eight teams in Europe. Incredibly happy we are still in all competitions.”

Rico Lewis had a late chance for a fourth Manchester City goal but his shot hit the bar.Manchester City joined Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain in the quarters, with the final four teams to be determined next week.

“We are a team that believes we can do it,” Guardiola said. “Listen, we’re competing with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. We don’t know who we are going to face. It’s a question of wait and see. The important thing is that seven years in a row we are here.”

Manchester City will find out their quarter-final opponents in the draw on March 15.“We feel good right now,” Mr Akanji said.

“We’re confident going into the next round. We are one of the favourites but have to prove it.”

Haaland was taken off late in the game, wrapping 18-year-old substitute Jacob Wright, who made his Champions League debut, in a hug as he left the pitch.

Copenhagen boss Jacob Neestrup believes City can retain their Champions League title.

“They’re going to win it, they are,” he said. “This is just a level up — in everything.

“We have played (City) two seasons in a row and Man City are getting better. They are top players, the structure they have is amazing. It is not just the technical and tactical. They work hard.”

Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham, has said his suspension for dissent is “ridiculous”.

The England international believes he is being made an example in LaLiga.

Bellingham thought he had scored the winner as Madrid drew 2-2 at Valencia last weekend.

But the goal came seconds after the full-time whistle was blown by on-field referee Jesus Gil Manzano.

Los Blancos boss, Carlo Ancelotti, revealed Bellingham was sent off for yelling, “It’s a f*cking goal,” as he raced over to Manzano.

In the referee’s notes, he noted that the 20-year-old was sent off for having displayed an “aggressive attitude” towards the referee.

But speaking to reporters after drawing with RB Leipzig, Bellingham said: “I didn’t say anything offensive, I didn’t say anything different to what my team-mates said and I think that sometimes because I’m new they want to make an example of me.

“In the end I have to be responsible for my actions and I’m not proud, but I think two matches for that is a bit ridiculous, but if it’s two matches I have to take my responsibility and I’ll cheer from the stands.”